De Zwarte Hond

De Zwarte Hond is a design practice for architecture and urban design. We have offices in Groningen, Rotterdam and Cologne and have approximately 100 staff with whom we work on projects characterised by blending in, yet being special. We achieve this with German thoroughness, Groningen realism and Rotterdam optimism.

Nine partners stand at the helm of De Zwarte Hond: Bart van Kampen, Eric van Keulen, Jurjen van der Meer, Erik Roerdink, Matthias Rottmann, Ellen Schindler, Henk Stadens, Jeroen de Willigen and Daan Zandbelt. Because of this we have a wide range of in-house expertise that enables us to provide an answer to every spatial design challenge.

Furthermore, the partners ensure that De Zwarte Hond remains firmly rooted in society.

By combining urban design and architecture in a single firm we can survey the different forces that prevail in a specific location. We can effectively assess what adds value and enhances the quality of life for the occupants, the street, the neighbourhood, for the city.

Our designs are solid, stable and also resilient. They follow the language of their surroundings, but have a subtle, surprising individuality. This is due to the detailing, the material, the strong connection between interior and exterior and the clever and flexible use of space.

We work primarily on public buildings and housing development assignments. Places of eternal beauty where people meet, relax, feel at home. We take the long term impact of our designs very seriously. As regards energy consumption, maintenance, and exploitation as well as flexibility, we ensure that our buildings and plans are ingeniously interlinked. We have great ambition: our next step is circular construction.

We are fully committed to our designs, and we also assume responsibility for their realisation. The end product must be just as ambitious and beautiful as the first proposals. An end product that is more than worthy of the investment.